The death of John Wilkes Booth marked the end of a frantic manhunt following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Booth’s actions at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, plunged the nation into mourning and ignited a fiery pursuit for the perpetrator. While history records the dramatic capture and death of Lincoln’s assassin, a deeper understanding of Booth’s final days and his mindset can be gleaned from the pages of his personal diary, recovered after his demise. This diary offers a chilling glimpse into the thoughts of a man cornered, unrepentant, and facing his ultimate fate, culminating in the dramatic events surrounding John Wilkes Booth’s death.
In the diary entries penned during his desperate escape, Booth reveals a man increasingly consumed by paranoia and self-justification. His entry dated “Friday 21” – believed to be April 21, 1865, less than a week after the assassination – paints a picture of a fugitive “hunted like a dog.” Booth laments his plight, writing of being chased through “swamps, woods,” and by “gun-boats,” leading to his return “wet cold and starving.” This vivid description underscores the harsh realities of his flight and the relentless pursuit that was closing in, ultimately leading to John Wilkes Booth’s death.
Despite his desperate circumstances, Booth’s diary reveals a striking lack of remorse for his actions. He compares himself to historical figures celebrated for their acts of rebellion, Brutus and William Tell, asking, “For doing what Brutus was honored for. What made Tell a Hero. And yet I for striking down a greater tyrant than they ever knew. Am looked upon as a common, cutthroat.” This comparison highlights Booth’s distorted perception of himself as a heroic figure rather than a criminal. He firmly believes his act was “purer” and for the good of his country, revealing a deeply entrenched sense of self-righteousness even in the face of national condemnation. This unwavering conviction, documented in his diary, provides crucial insight into the mindset of John Wilkes Booth in the days leading up to his death.
Booth’s anger extends beyond his pursuers to the very public he believed he was serving. He expresses outrage at being viewed as a “common cutthroat” and condemns the American people as “degenerate.” He feels abandoned and misunderstood, lamenting, “And yet now behold the cold hand they extend to me.” This sense of betrayal fuels his resentment and further solidifies his conviction that he acted justly, despite the overwhelming public outcry against him. His diary entry reveals a man isolated and disillusioned, a state of mind that contributed to his defiant stance in the moments leading up to John Wilkes Booth’s death.
Perhaps most poignantly, Booth’s diary foreshadows the manner of his own demise. He writes, “I have too great a soul to die like a criminal,” revealing a determination to avoid capture and a premonition of a violent end. This statement is chillingly prescient, given the events that unfolded at Garrett Farm in Virginia. Booth’s words suggest a man unwilling to face justice through trial and execution, hinting at a preference for a more dramatic and self-determined conclusion. This desire to control his fate ultimately played out in the circumstances of John Wilkes Booth’s death.
On April 26, 1865, federal troops cornered Booth at Garrett Farm. Refusing to surrender, he was fatally shot in the neck while attempting to escape a burning barn. His death, just days after penning his final diary entries, fulfilled the foreshadowing within those very pages. The diary, therefore, becomes more than just a historical document; it serves as a tragic prelude to John Wilkes Booth’s death, offering a raw and unfiltered account of the assassin’s descent into desperation and delusion in his final days. It stands as a testament to the tumultuous period following Lincoln’s assassination and provides invaluable insight into the mind of the man at the center of this pivotal moment in American history, right up to John Wilkes Booth’s death.
